House GOP Abandons Jordan for Speaker After Secret Ballot Loss In a surprising turn of events, the Republican conference has decided to withdraw its support for House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) as Speaker. This decision came after a secret ballot vote, which occurred just hours after Jordan’s third unsuccessful ballot on the House floor. With each successive vote, Jordan saw a decline in GOP support. Following the announcement, Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), the chairman of the Republican Study Committee, declared his own candidacy for Speaker. Earlier this month, Hern had considered but ultimately chose not to run for the position. This development adds another layer of drama to the ongoing saga that began over two weeks ago when eight House Republicans, in collaboration with Democrats, removed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from office on October 3. Jordan had become the GOP’s second choice for the position of Speaker. Initially, the party had narrowly nominated House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) for the role. However, resistance to his candidacy, mainly from Jordan supporters, led Scalise to withdraw his nomination just one day later. In response to these recent events, Scalise has confirmed that he will not pursue another bid for Speaker. As a result, the House finds itself in a state of chaos and deadlock, even as significant events such as the conflict in Israel and an impending shutdown deadline loom. Republican lawmakers have announced that a candidate forum will take place on Monday, with a secret ballot election scheduled for Tuesday to nominate a new Speaker. These developments highlight the fractured state of affairs within the Republican Party as they grapple with internal divisions and seek a unified front to address critical issues facing the nation. The selection of a new Speaker will play a significant role in determining the direction and effectiveness of governance in the coming months. We will continue to monitor this situation as it unfolds and provide updates on the latest developments. The future leadership of the House of Representatives hangs in the balance, and the outcome of these proceedings will have far-reaching implications for the functioning of our government.